By Jonny Turner
Mid Canterbury trainers Brent and Tim White are more than making up the numbers at Cromwell on Friday.
The father and son trainers are bringing a team of horses south which have bolstered the fields for the first running of a two-day meeting at Cromwell by the Wyndham Harness Racing Club.
Most importantly for punters, the White team is packed full of winning chances.
Among them is Better’s Tart who will be out to add to her outstanding record south of the Waitaki when starting in Friday’s feature pace.
The mare takes on a quality field following a Group One tilt in the New Zealand Standardbred Breeders Stakes.
“She grows another leg down there,” Tim White said.
“She went a good race in the Group One mares race, she just had to do all the work three-wide.
“You couldn’t fault any of her runs before that, she’s come back nicely after her last run.”
“She’s going good and we are confident she can go a nice race.”
The Whites also start Midfrew Luisianabeau in race 8.
“He is a hardcase fella, he has got all the ability,” Tim White said.
“He is coming up nicely. If he can step – which will be the key – if Matty can get him away – he is definitely not out of it.”
Majestic Rollon looks a genuine threat for the Whites in Friday’s feature trot.
From her 10m handicap, the mare gets a head-start on several key rivals.
“She has been great for the stable for the last 12-18 months.”
“She gets into this race nicely.”
“These will be her last two starts, she is in foal, so this is her swansong.”
“It would be nice to get a W (win) on the board before she goes out.”
Kohli Trouble heads into race 3 after making an early error in his last start at Methven.
But there is hope in the White camp the horse can find his manners and that his experience could be telling when he takes on an inexperienced line up.
“That is his big advantage in this.”
“If he can bring his manners – which he does nine times out of 10 – he will step and probably step better than most.”
“He has dropped back in rating points and we do think he is a live chance in this race.”
Sarah O’Reilly drives Kohli Trouble, with John Morrison to drive Majestic Rollon, Kim Butt to drive Better’s Tart and Matthew Williamson to drive Midfrew Luisianabeau.
